Hand-held cardiac sound tone diagnostic device and method

Claim 2

An on-the-spot method of diagnosing cardiac arrhythmias comprising the steps of generating an audio frequency signal, receiving electrical signals generated by the heart and amplifying said signals, frequency modulating the generated audio frequency signal with said amplified electrical signals, transducing the frequency modulated signals to produce a variable frequency audible tone whose frequency will vary automatically in response to changes in the amplitude of the electrical signals generated by the heart, and listening directly with the human ear to the variations in said audible tone due to variations in frequency of the audible signal to directly detect and analyze cardiac arrhythmias at the patient''s side from the variations in the audible tone.

Claim 3

An on-the-spot cardiac diagnostic method comprising the steps of generating a normally even and unvarying sound tone, receiving and amplifying electrical signals generated by the heart and aLlowing variations in the heart generated signals to alter the frequency of the sound tone at intervals responsive to the action of the heart, and listening directly with the human ear to the changes in the sound tones to effect the direct diagnosis of said cardiac arrhythmias from the changes in the sound tones at the patient''s side.

Claim 4

An on-the-spot cardiac diagnostic method comprising the steps of generating a normally even and unvarying sound tone, receiving and amplifying electrical signals generated by the heart and aLlowing variations in the heart generated signals to alter the frequency of the sound tone at intervals responsive to the action of the heart, and listening directly with the human ear to the changes in the sound tones to effect the direct diagnosis of said cardiac arrhythmias from the changes in the sound tones at the patient''s side.

Claim 5

A cardiac diagnostic apparatus comprising a completely self-contained electrical battery-powered, portable, hand-held unit including a housing, electrical means in said housing producing a normally even and unvarying audible tone, said housing having a generally flat bottom wall portion, three electrodes projecting substantially equidistantly from said bottom wall portion and arranged in triangular configuration thereon to thereby physically stabilize said housing in free-standing relation while directly engaging the chest of a patient to receive and conduct electrical signals generated by the heart, amplifier means in said housing connected to said three electrodes to receive and provide at an output amplified electrical signals generated by the heart, said output connected to said electrical means to produce variations in said audible tone with said amplified electrical signals generated by the heart, said housing having another wall portion with an aperture therethrough, audio transducer means connected in said housing to said electrical means to receive and transmit said variations in said audible tone through the aperture in said another wall portion, whereby said variations in said audible tone are representative of cardiac arrhythmias thereby enabling a physician hearing said audible tone variations to directly diagnose said arrhythmias at the patient''s side.

Claim 6

A cardiac diagnostic apparatus comprising a completely self-contained electrical battery-powered, portable, hand-held unit including a housing, electrical means in said housing producing a normally even and unvarying audible tone, said housing having a generally flat bottom wall portion, three electrodes projecting substantially equidistantly from said bottom wall portion and arranged in triangular configuration thereon to thereby physically stabilize said housing in free-standing relation while directly engaging the chest of a patient to receive and conduct electrical signals generated by the heart, amplifier means in said housing connected to said three electrodes to receive and provide at an output amplified electrical signals generated by the heart, said output connected to said electrical means to produce variations in said audible tone with said amplified electrical signals generated by the heart, said housing having another wall portion with an aperture therethrough, audio transducer means connected in said housing to said electrical means to receive and transmit said variations in said audible tone through the aperture in said another wall portion, whereby said variations in said audible tone are representative of cardiac arrhythmias thereby enabling a physician hearing said audible tone variations to directly diagnose said arrhythmias at the patient''s side.

Claim 7

The structure of claim 3, and said electrodes being blunt, wide, rigid pin elements and having wide skin contact faces to assure firm and adequate electrical contact with the chest wall of the patient.

Claim 8

The structure of claim 4, and said electrodes projecting approximately three-quarters of an inch beyond said bottom wall portion of said housing to enable all of the electrodes to firmly engage the patient''s chest irrespective of chest curvature and flesh irregularities.

Claim 9

The structure of claim 3, and the intermediate electrode in the triangular configuration being a grounding contact, and said other two contacts spaced apart approximately 4 inches.

Claim 10

The structure of claim 6, and said wide skin contact faces of the electrodes being roughened.

Claim 11

The structure of claim 3, and said transducer means being a loudspeaker.